Ponting in doubt for Big Bash opener

Date: December 08 2012

Laine Clark

The farewell tour for Ricky Ponting may be cut short one game after a stomach bug struck down the ex-Test skipper ahead of the Hobart Hurricanes' Big Bash League Twenty20 opener against Brisbane Heat on Sunday night.

But Hurricanes captain George Bailey expects Australian crowds to see more of fellow Tasmanian Alex Doolan.

Bailey joked that maybe a "dodgy burger" eaten while soaking up the Australian Open golf in Sydney this week may be behind recently retired Test batsman Ponting's expected absence at the Gabba on Sunday night.

"He's got a bit of gastro," Bailey said in Brisbane on Saturday.

"A couple of tough days watching golf has obviously taken its toll.

"He will lie low today and see how he will pull up tomorrow. The heat will take a bit out of him so I don't think he will risk it, but we will assess that tomorrow."

While Ponting's stomach may be suspect, Bailey said there was nothing dicey about Doolan's prospects after the unheralded Tasmanian was thrown into the mix as Ponting's replacement for the Test series against Sri Lanka.

While Bailey endorsed left-hander Phil Hughes as Ponting's Test replacement, he thought it was only a matter of time before Doolan made more than the national selectors sit up and take notice.

Doolan - also from Ponting's hometown Launceston - has thrashed 409 Sheffield Shield runs at 58.42 this summer but staked a huge Test claim with an unbeaten 161 against South Africa for Australia A.

"Talent-wise he has always had it but now he has turned his starts into big scores," Bailey said of Doolan.

"And batting at three for us (Tasmania) is very important for us and it helps you jump out of the pack in front of other (Test contenders).

"They have picked the right man in Phil Hughes and deserves his opportunity in the Test side but someone like Alex Doolan, you have a couple of good scores and suddenly your name can be thrust into the limelight."

Still, Bailey looked forward to being part of Ponting's swansong just days after the Australian batsman, dubbed the best since Don Bradman, had a bittersweet Test farewell against the all-conquering Proteas in Perth.

"It would be good to see him have an extended run at T20," Bailey said.

"When it first kicked off at what seemed many years ago he had some success but never had a chance to string games together in the format.

"He didn't have the Test scores he wanted but prior to that he had been in outstanding form and still has a skill level above us mere mortals."

The Hurricanes - boasting the likes of Xavier Doherty, Travis Birt and Tim Paine - have been buoyed by the bizarre withdrawal of Dale Steyn from his sole Heat appearance due to a South African cricket dispute.

Brisbane will also be without New Zealand allrounder Daniel Vettori (achilles) for the entire BBL campaign.

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